Not Your Ordinary Farm in Williston

Published October 21st, 2012

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WILLISTON- "Every week my mom would take me over to the zoo and they had an elephant there and I just remember looking at it and saying I want to work with that animal," said Colin Fraser, Two Tails Ranch manager.

Fraser is from Boston but moved to Williston to live his dream.

"I just found them majestic," said Fraser.

Patricia Zerbini owns Two Tails Ranch, this is where Fraser works seven days a week.

But feeding, cleaning and caring for the elephants is just peanuts for Fraser.

"Just being able to interact with them is what makes me wake up every morning, said Fraser. "Knowing I get to come out here and take care of them."

Two Tails is a calm and surprisingly quiet place, despite its unique residents.

The Ranch is home to four Asian elephants: Luke, Roxy, Rajah and Bunny.

They are a species that has been on the endangered list since the mid 1970s.

"I think a lot of people truly don't understand how drastic their survival is at this point," said Zerbini.

Zerbini says the population of Asian elephants is dropping and the amount of land lost to urbanization in their country is massive.

"I think people really need to start looking to the future which would be captive breeding and preservation programs outside of their countries," Zerbini said.

Two Tails Ranch is the only privately owned elephant farm in the country.

Zerbini says elephants actually live longer in captivity and this of course allows Fraser, to get to know them even better.

"They see me and they realize 'oh this is my guy.' You do get a strong bond with those animals, especially because they are such a higher intelligence animal and they recognize you as their care taker," Fraser said.

Through tours at two tails ranch you can learn more about these endangered elephants.